I'm spending the day with my 13 year old niece. I'm flat broke and need activity ideas. We are gonna cook something but I need 1 more project. We were going to do scrapbooking but now she says she can't finish the film on her camera in time to develop the pictures and wants to do something else. I don't wanna just watch a movie or something because I want to actually spend time with her and talk. We're going out this friday, all day. Any ideas?
Do you have nail polish and lotion at home? Have a spa afternoon. If you have anything to fill with warm water find some nice smelling bubble bath and put just a little in to soak you feet first. I've tried this before and it was a hit.
what if you go to hobby lobby, michaels, or joann fabrics and get an assortment of beads etc. and make some necklaces and bracelets? there are coupons in the sunday paper! you wouldn't need much. or decorate a t-shirt. I know it's not free, but it could be pretty cheap. I have boys, so I don't know too much about what girls like to do these days.
I wasn't sure from your post - are you trying to go out all day, or find a project to do indoors?
I'm not very crafty, but I do have some good sites bookmarked for Chicago-area free stuff if that helps:
Here's a "free Chicago" page: http://www.choosechicago.com/free_chicago/Pages/default.aspx. There is also this program called "Chicago Greeter," which is free. You have to arrange ahead of time, but you get your own personal tour guide of the city - for free!
Garfield Conservatory is free and they are having a big spring flower show.
This Chicago Reader blog is another good source for free stuff: http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/freeshit/
So cook something fancy...a whole four course meal. Dress up in fancy clothes, dress up the table with candles and the whole bit. Have your hubby where a nice suit. Then both of you put your hair in curlers, put on makeup, do your nails, and get all dolled up for it.
There are some places in chicago like two different botanical gardens that are free...maybe you could take a trip into the city on the train and see them...then stop on the way back at a park and have a picnic.
Go on Lowes.com and look up the group projects they have. They aren't expensive and they are pretty cool.
I dont know where you are located but I have a coupon for a free hour of bowling, you just pay for shoes--i am in lake in the hills if you are near me you are welcomed to have it. Also when I was that age I loved making bracelets with beads or the friendship bracelets--If you dont have the supplies post it on freecycle and I am sure people have stuff they arent using--Good luck
You could try one of those "paint-it-yourself" pottery places. I think most places have a small studio fee ($5-10), and then you can each pick a piece of pottery to paint, overall it is not very expensive, offers a fun creative outlet, and plenty of time to talk. Plus you have a piece to remember the occasion in the end. www.myglazedexpressions.com is a website for one of these types of studios if you wanted to check it out a little more. Hope you two have a wonderful day!
Renting a movie with her is a wonderful idea, as is anything that you do with her and JUST HER. It's the age. Giving her your undivided attention is the greatest gift that you can provide. It's what many of them desire - time with an adult who is not their parent but still adores them!!!!
Do you have a pet... take your niece and your pet for a long walk in the forest preserves. Buy them both ice cream - soft serve for the pup! Rent THAT movie and make it a movie/pop/popcorn afternoon. Cooking with her - that's just what my 13 year old daughter LOVES to do with HER aunt! (And her aunt has much more patience with her in the kitchen than I do!) Call her up and let her help you plan the day! I'm guessing the baby is going to be part of the activities - she may want to spend part of the day just ga- ga-ing with him, too! Don't overplan - it's not like she is a toddler anymore. Even pulling out a game of trivia pursuit or scrabble is an awesome time. Money doesn't buy a memory. Taking the time to enjoy your niece will be a memory she will treasure!
Enjoy the time!
If it's nice out, go for a walk somewhere and take a picnic along. Otherwise, stay home, soak your hands & feet and do manicures and pedicures. Play UNO and bake some cupcakes.
If you're going out, the make-up counters at the mall will do your/ her make-up for free, or if she's too young for that, they could let you both sample their skin care lines.
Have fun.
I like the idea of a home salon. You can do each others hair and paint nails. You can have the whole thing set up ahead of time, including bins to soak your feet. Line up all you nail polishes, hair baubles, brushes and lotions.
Play music and you can tell her about the music you grew up with, and she can share her favorites with you. Music is universal and can serve as a bonding experience.
Your time with her is more special than just another gift. Have fun.
All these ideas are very good so far! I just wanted to put my 2 cents in. another post mentioned go fishing. I strongly urge you not to do this unless you have a fishing license. fishing is just like hunting; no permit no play! You can buy fishing license at walmart and they are only like $15 for a whole year. Anyone over 18(16 some places) has to have one. It is a state law
How about doing at home manicures and pedicures? Or maybe watch a movie that you've both already seen that you can sit and talk during and share w/each other?
Give her a mani and pedi . If you don't want to do it yourself call around and find a place with deals for kids and make sure you tell them it is her birhtday!!!
I like the idea of doing a spa day at your house...but if you Don't have that talent, try checking out any beauty schools in the area. Hair Professionals give hair cuts for $5 and they may even do nails, etc. but I'm not sure. Find one and give them a call, it could be really cool. They're students and are graded on their work, so you should get a good style, mani, pedi...whatever. Good luck and whatever attention she gets from you will be long remembered - not for what you do, but how you interact...
I'm not sure if you and your niece are outdoorsy, but if it's nice out you could find a place to go hiking, It's free, you get some fresh air and exercise and you could pack a small picnic. I don't know of any places up there near you. We live near Starved Rock and that's where we meet family to spend the day together. (It's halfway between Chicago and Peoria, good midway mark to meet for us)
Or you could go fishing. That's free if you already have the gear. If not, you could buy a couple cheap poles and hooks. We use frozen shrimp for bait or worms from the yard. That might be too "gross" for your niece though.
I have a 13 year old daughter and sometimes she justs wants to spend time alone with me (without dad and brother). Besides video games, she loves to bake cakes and cookies, play card and/or board games and do craft activities. She will still play LIFE, SORRY, Monopoloy, etc. Sometimes we make friendship bracelets together.
I know you said "no movies," but we watch "chick flicks" together (PG13). My daughter loved 27 Dresses and Made of Honor. Check out your library for free movies. I make it extra special by having the two of us eat some junk food we normally wouldn't eat.
She just enjoys the actual moments together and getting my entire "full" attention.
the at home spa thing is a huge hit. always. But you might want to go ahead of time to somewhere and get some colors she would like for toenails and fingernails. the music thing that is fun in our house is to find music that has been remade. stuff you listened to that a newer/younger artist has remade. My sons would be appaled that I would know a song they thought was so cool only to find it was a remake of something I was appalled to learn my mom had known as it was a remake of something from the 60's she had known lol. Good luck. and if your looking for something outside the house you might try some of the museum's. they all have free days.
What about taking her to a nature center or going for a walk in the woods. The DuPage Forest Preserve District always has tons of free and cheap events: http://www.dupageforest.com/calendar.aspx - you could visit the Klein Creek Farm, the 1800s Farm over on County Farm Road. If you go to that Web page and look to the right you can sort by stuff for kids or free stuff. I also love this site: http://www.nwf.org/outside/ - it's the National Wildlife Federation and they have ideas for things to do with kids outside - click on learn and observe and green hour. Here's a direct link to some ideas: http://www.greenhour.org/content/activity
If she has an IPOD account you could listen to music and download a certain number of songs together (they are 99 cents each). My hubby and daughter seem to enjoy that a lot. Good luck!
